Iran
Describe the state of the Iranian civil society. ("War on Words", Freedom House, Electoral Process Handout, PPT Text)
Iranian civil society is being suppressed by the government, especially in cities such as Tehran. Oftentimes, state-sponsored protests are allowed, however, protests by the people are often cracked down upon and ruled illegal. NGOs are allowed to exist if they do not threaten the government or point out Iran's human rights abuse. NGOs that focus on the environment are permitted, while NGOs such as the Center for Human Rights Abuses are often targeted and their leaders put on arrest. (Ex: Stop Stoning Forever). Civil society is trying to grow, especially in places like Tehran, however, the state continues to shut it down.
Describe the stat of NGO's in Iran.
NGO's are allowed if they are nonpoliitcal, (issues such as the enivronment or poverty) however NGOs that challenge Iran's stance on human rights or challenge Iran politically are often prosecuted or challenged in other ways by the Iranian government.
What is the Guardian Council? What powers do they have? Who chooses them?
The guardian council are a council of senior clerics who are appointed by the Supreme Leader and the Majles who choose a name compiled from the Supreme Judiciary Council. The Supreme Judiciary Council is chosen by the Supreme Leader( your's truly).
Describe the demographic makeup
Persians are iran's biggest ethnic group, however a dozen other ethnicities are represented as well including Aerizs, Kurds, Arabs.
What are the powers of the Supreme Leader and President?
Supreme Leader power: controls media, military, judiciary, clerical hierarchy. President: Signing treaties with other countries or organizations, administering the national planning, budget, state employment affairs, appointing ministers subject to the approval of parliament. The Supreme Leader has the final say in most issues, and can hire and fire people in the presidential cabinet.
What is the Majles, how are they elected, etc.? Single-member districts, proportional rep? Who says they are allowed to run
The Majles are the legislative body of the Iranian government. They are elected through their districts directly, Tehran having 30 seats, and the second largest having six. The Guardian council allows them to run. There are 270 members of the Majiles.
Historical significance of the elections in 1997, 2009, 2013 and 2016.
1997: reformist candidate Khatami won. Voting age was lowered to15. Won by a landslide, many people thought things were going to turn for the country. 2009: Very first presidential debate, Abdimajid won by 62%. However there was an irregularity-with 14 million unused ballots, and many accounts of people being turned away at the polls. Many protested, on accounts of corruption. Supreme Leader called the protests illegal, and jailed many. 2013: Rouhani won by a majority. First time a candidate embraced social media. Promised victory over terrorism and extremists.
What is the Assembly of Religious Experts? How long do they serve? What are the qualifications to a member of the Assembly?
Assembly of religious experts is the governing body that chooses the the Supreme Leader. They are popularly elected through the people. They also have the power to remove the Supreme Leader. They serve 8 year terms. They must have a seminary background, which almost always guarantees clerics.
Describe the state of the judicial system in Iran.
Codified Sharia law-often times the difference between the Sharia Law and Iranian law is ignored, and even when a higher legal official such as a Supreme Court justice clamps down on a lower justice-the lower justice can still enforce sharia punishment because of codification. In that, there is some rule of law because only some courts enforce a ruling. No-not independent because the Supreme Leader appoints the Justices for five year terms.
What is the Expediency Council? What purpose do they serve? How long are there terms? Who sits on the Council?
Expediency council was set up to settle disputes between the Majles and the Guardian Council, however, now the Supreme Leader leader uses it to exercise his power. There are 32 members, and they meet secretly. They are answerable only to the Supreme leader, and have five year terms.
What Islamic tenet justifies clerics having political power and control?
Guardianship of the Jurist
What are the details of the 1953 Coup in Iran? (
In response to Prime Minister Mussadegh nationalizing oil industry, Muhammed Reza Shah Pahlavi utilizes help of US and UK intelligence to overthrow Mussadegh, making him the sole leader of Iran
Describe the role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including the Basij and Quds force.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard is described as an internal and external regulator for the Islamic Republic. The corps primary role is INTERNAL SECURITY, however, they can assist Iran's regular army. Their job is to protect the Republic against a coup. Basij Resistance Force is an all volunteer paramilitary wing, which enforced Sharia law. Quds force- a paramilitary arm of the revolutionary guard with 10k to 15k personnel, in charge of external affairs.
Describe why elections in Iran are considered to be some of the most competitive in the Middle-East and yet not very democratic?
They are competitive because all iranians are allowed to vote who are over the age of 18, and everyone can vote including women. There are usually many candidates, however, they are all nonpartisan and cannot campaign because it is forbidden. It is not considered that democratic simply because the Guardian Council weeds through the candidates, often tossing aside candidates that are too radical. In 2005, the Guardian Council became even more important when
What type of economic problems does Iran currently face?
Too relient on oil, unemployed young people, sanctions
What is the purpose of the special religious endowments in Iran (Bonyads)? Why are they controversial
a form of islamic charity that the clerics control. They are controverisal because they most definatley seem like another way for the cleric to gain money. They are most definatley corrupt money losers.
Describe the status of women in Iran.
allowed to vote and run for Majles-however cannot initiate a divorce, inherit land, and must wear a hijab .They must cover, for fear of offending the man, and in rural areas are stoned to death if found to be an adulteress. They live under Sharia law which views women as less than cows.
Describe how the unitary system in Iran works?
centralized in Tehran. Provincial, local, village governments elected by local voters and some political autonomy.
What steps does the Iranian Constitution take to allow for minority representation in the Majles?(PP and Text.)
designate seats in the Majiles houses for religious minorities and women.
What role did the hostage crisis play in solidifying the Ayatollah's control over the revolution?
further encouraged anti-American sentiment, made it easier to force out secular revolutionaries
Why did Ayatollah Khomeini's "cult of personality" and charisma play such an important role in guiding the revolution?
he promoted the idea that clerics had the responsibility to make sure that Islamic values were upheld by the government through cultivating populist support, shifted concentration of opposition of the shah to orthodox Shiites after revolution, a secular govt was put in place, but was ineffective at governing, so Khomeini and clerics were able to purge moderates in favor of setting up an Islamic republic worshipped by many because of supposed divine right to rule -- he essentially stood in for the lost imam
How did the Shah maintain political power during his reign
modernized the economy by shifting from an agricultural economy to one based on oil became a rentier state, allowing the UK to drill oil while collecting payment -- rapidly increased GDP
What issues did Iranians have with the Shah?
neglected civil society -- people were better off economically (though wealth was unequally spread), but had very few political rights clergy+very religious people didn't see secular government as legitimate because Shi'as believe only the "lost imam" and clergy should be able to rule too pro-western once oil crisis began and US began to pressure Iran on human rights, political opposition among urban poor/rural-urban migrants, moderate middle class, clergy, bazaar merchants, and leftists experienced a surge
Who determines economic policy in Iran?
president
Formal economy problems
too relient on oil, expands its market to keep young people, become apart of the WTO not just OPEC. Get rid of subsides.
What is the structure of the Iranian Government?
unitary
How did the following events shape the early years of Iran's Islamic Republic: hostage crisis, the Cultural Revolution and the war with Iraq?
war was used as an excuse to purge political opposition increased tensions with America, who backed Iraq led to creation of IRGC as a counterforce against the military, which had been loyal to the Shah cultural revolution - led to purge of American/western influence in favor of Islamic values similarities - long dictatorship, defection of intellectuals, lack of pre-revolutionary democratic institutions, anger at modernization by autocratic leader, follow up cultural revolution, replacement of one personality cult for another differences - no major economic crisis (this is what the sheet says but there was the whole gas crisis thing??), no coup by army, peasants/rural poor had no major role, no succession crisis, little guerrilla warfare, main difference is that it implemented a theocracy
What is the state of political parties in Iran?
There are no political parties-as all Majles and presidential elections are nonpartisan. There are "political currents"-often decided by who the president is and the social mood in the country. Khatami, for instance, represented a reformist current. Hardliners are often candidates/politicians who believe in the original interpretation of sharia law. Moderates are most common, and those are distinguished by those who believe in sharia law but do not follow it to its original intent.